Helmet comprising a movable visor with a vertical axis of rotation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a helmet comprising at least one movable visor and a shell to protect the head of the wearer, characterized in that the visor is attached to a support connected to the outer surface of the shell by a rotary mechanism making it possible to move the visor around the shell, the rotary mechanism consisting of a single mechanical connection positioned substantially at the top of the shell. 
     The invention is designed particularly for the military aviation field and also applies to helmets comprising several visors.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to French Patent Application Number 08 06619, entitled Casque Comportant Une Visiere Mobile Avec Un Axe De Rotation Vertical, filed on Nov. 25, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to helmets comprising a supporting shell and at least one protective visor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A helmet for a pilot of an aircraft, particularly a war plane, is usually a multifunctional helmet and is fitted with visors. Such a helmet comprises a rigid supporting shell that surrounds the top cover, the rear and the lateral portions of the head of the wearer. The helmet comprises visors through which the wearer of the helmet can see his environment; these visors are most often able to be retracted to the top of the head and provide protection for the face against various assaults (wind, dust, light or violent lighting, etc.). For night flights, a night vision system may be interposed in front of the eyes of the wearer. A helmet may also comprise a ballistic visor close to the eyes of the pilot and a visor having an overprint of the normal view of the information originating from a sight.

FIG. 1 represents two existing helmet solutions for a pilot of a war plane. The top figure represents a helmet the visor 2 of which is attached by two rotary mechanisms 1 on the lateral portions of the helmet. A system 3 for holding and guiding the visor is shown on the top portion of the helmet. The bottom figure illustrates a helmet comprising an electronic system 4 on the lateral face of the helmet. In another variant of a helmet comprising a mechanical system for accommodating night-vision glasses on the centre of the front portion of the helmet, the mechanism for holding and guiding the visor is positioned on a lateral face of the helmet close to an electronic system.

The helmet visors are subject to several problems:

-   -   A first problem is that these visors must be able to be stowed         easily and quickly. Specifically, during a flight operation, the         stowage handling must be carried out involving a minimum of         inconvenience for the pilot. The presence of many electronic         systems becomes inconvenient for handling the visor whether it         be for raising it or removing it from the helmet. The right         figure of FIG. 1 describes a mechanism 1 for attaching the visor         2 at the electronic system. The presence of the onboard         electronic systems in the same location as the kinematics         mechanisms of the visor impose additional constraints on the         design of the electronic systems. This involves a         miniaturization of the electronic systems and consequently an         increase in their cost and also a reduction in their         performance.     -   A second problem originates from the weight of the visor, from         the associated mechanisms and from the integrated electronic         systems. These systems apply their weight to portions that are         off-centre relative to the centre of gravity of the head of the         wearer. In the position of use, a visor comprises a centre of         gravity at the front of the helmet and, in the stowage position,         a visor is in a position raised to the top of the helmet.         Consequently, the centre of gravity of the helmet is positioned         at the front and towards the top of the head of the wearer thus         increasing the risk of trauma due to muscular fatigue of the         pilot.     -   A third problem comes from the fact that the visor is raised to         the top of the helmet in the stowage position. In flight, the         risk of impact for a pilot most frequently originates from the         top of his head in the event of sudden loss of altitude or         turbulence. The top of the helmet is therefore the most risky         zone for the visor. This zone has a risk of impact with the         front panels of the cockpit. And without considering impacts,         this zone is usually small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to propose a helmet making it possible to alleviate the aforementioned problems. More precisely, the invention is a helmet comprising at least one movable visor and a shell to protect the head of the wearer, characterized in that the visor is attached to a support connected to the outer surface of the shell by a rotary mechanism making it possible to move the visor around the shell, the rotary mechanism consisting of a single mechanical connection positioned substantially at the top of the shell.

The rotary mechanism comprising a single mechanical connection at the top of the helmet makes it possible to free up usable space on the lateral faces of the helmet. The mechanism for rotating and holding the visor is simplified and positioned in a space that was previously not used. Consequently, the rotary and holding mechanism does not encumber the space around the electronic systems. The constraints of design of the electronic systems are reduced and make it possible to reduce the cost of the electronics.

An additional feature of the helmet is that the rotary mechanism makes it possible to move the support of the visor between two positions, a first position of use of the visor for which the visor is positioned at the front face of the helmet and a second position for stowing the visor for which the visor is positioned at the rear of the helmet. In order to move the visor between the position of use and the position of stowage, the visor moves along the lateral portions of the helmet.

In the stowage position, the centre of gravity balancing the helmet is situated at the rear of the head of the wearer. Consequently, it balances the centre of gravity of the assembly consisting of the helmet and the electronic systems positioned at the front of the head. The centre of gravity of the helmet assembly thus becomes situated at the centre of gravity of the head of the pilot and reduces the risk of trauma for the pilot. This also provides comfort of use.

In the stowage position, since the visor is not on the top of the helmet, the invention allows minimal encumbrance of this zone.

The visor also does not risk a vertical impact with the front panels of the cockpit.

Another cause of damage to the visor is the impact with the system for receiving night-vision glasses. Since the visor is moved to the lateral faces of the helmet, the invention solves this problem.

Advantageously, the rotary mechanism is designed so that its axis of rotation passes through a point substantially positioned in the centre of the helmet and the said axis if also offset at an angle relative to the vertical axis passing through the same point. Preferably, the said angle of offset is approximately 30°. The offset of the axis of rotation from the vertical axis makes it possible to raise the position of the visor when the latter is stowed. The visor is then at a distance from the surrounding elements with which it could come into collision, particularly the top portion of the back of the pilot seat.

Advantageously, the helmet comprises a mechanical means for protecting the visor when the said visor is in the stowage position. This mechanical element, comprising an upwardly folded portion, protects the visor.

Advantageously, the support of the visor is also a means for gripping the visor and for moving the said visor. In one basic embodiment, the support of the visor comprises at least one mechanical branch connecting the visor to the rotary mechanism. In another embodiment, the visor consists of a central mechanical branch connected to the centre of the top longitudinal portion of the visor and of two lateral mechanical branches connected to the lateral portions of the top longitudinal portion of the visor.

The rotary mechanism also comprises a means for holding the support of the visor in the first and in the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the following description given as a non-limiting example and by virtue of the appended figures amongst which:

FIG. 1 represents two existing solutions of an aircraft pilot helmet.

FIG. 2 represents a simplified diagram of the helmet according to the invention.

The diagram represents the head of an individual wearing the helmet, the visor system of the helmet and the integrated electronic systems. The helmet is in the position of use with the visor at the front face of the helmet.

FIG. 3 represents a simplified diagram of a top view in perspective of the helmet. An arrow represents the trajectory followed by the visor in order to be moved from the position of use to the stowage position or vice versa.

FIG. 4 represents the helmet with the visor in the stowage position at the rear of the helmet. The centres of gravity and the forces of weight of the head of the wearer and of the elements incorporated into the helmet are represented by arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the current solutions for a helmet visor, in the military aviation field and also any other field, comprise two rotary connections at the lateral faces of the helmet, and more precisely close to the ears of the wearer. To be in a stowage position, the visor is also raised to the top of the helmet. These solutions comprise several problems mentioned above. To respond to these problems, the invention proposes a mechanical support 13 carrying the visor 11 which is attached to the shell 12 of the helmet 10 by means of a single rotary connection 131. The visor is also moved around the helmet via the lateral faces. For the rest of the description, the front face is defined as being the side of the helmet having the face of the wearer and the rear face as that which is in contact with the back of the head of the wearer. The visor according to the invention is particularly designed to protect from external light and consequently is usually tinted. But the invention is not limited to this type of visor.

FIG. 2 represents the helmet 10 in the position of use. The helmet comprises a shell 12 to protect the head of the wearer. The visor 11 is attached to the mechanical support 13, preferably by means of rivets, but may also be attached by bonding or any other attachment means making it possible to withstand the aviation stresses. An advantage of an attachment by rivets is the option of easily changing the visor in the event of damage.

The support 13 of the visor 11 is a rigid mechanical structure comprising at least one mechanical branch to carry the visor. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a base directly linked to the mechanical rotary connection 131, attached to the protective shell, which is divided into three mechanical branches 132, 133, 134 as shown in the view in perspective of FIG. 3. These three mechanical branches 132 to 134 are connected to a longitudinal mechanical portion 135 on the top edge of the visor. The top edge of the visor is attached to the longitudinal mechanical portion 135 by rivets. The mechanical structure of the support is sufficiently rigid to withstand the vibrations and movement of the helmet without exhibiting shaking. One advantage of the shape of the support 13 is that the mechanical structure is perfectly adapted so that the support of the visor also serves as a handle for moving the visor from the position of use to the stowage position or vice versa. The empty spaces between the mechanical branches allow the user to grip the support with the whole hand and to carry out the appropriate movement rapidly without having to grip the visor. With the current solutions, a pilot has to grip the visor itself and raise it. He has to grip it by the sides at the locations where the electronics are usually located. The visors are retractable and the attachment mechanism is also situated on the lateral faces of the helmet. In the implementation of this manoeuvre, the invention has the advantage that the visor and its support are separated by a manipulation at the connecting mechanism 131. This zone of the helmet is completely separated and therefore of easy access for the pilot.

The support 13 is connected to the shell of the helmet via the simple rotary connection 131. This connection is situated in an unencumbered zone of the helmet. This rotary connection allows the pilot to move the visor 11 in a rotary movement 43 relative to a substantially vertical axis 41 passing through the head of the wearer from top to bottom. This axis 41 is offset from the vertical axis 42 passing through the head from top to bottom through the same point. The axis 41 is offset at an angle 40, preferably of 30°. The rotary movement is carried out through 180° because of the presence of electronic systems on one of the two lateral faces of the helmet. However, in another application, this visor may be moved in a movement through 360° about the axis of rotation. The rotary connection 131 comprises a means for holding the support 13 of the visor for the position of use shown in FIG. 2 and for the stowage position shown in FIG. 4. This holding system is of the spring type, but is not limited to this type of system. Between these two positions, the holding system may be designed so that the support of the visor encounters less resistance on the trajectory of movement between the two positions. The connection between the shell 12 and the support 13 of the visor is designed so that few vibrations originating from the helmet or from the wearer are transmitted to the support 13 and cause the visor 11 to vibrate in front of the pilot.

The axis of rotation 41 of the rotary connection 131 is substantially offset from the vertical axis 42. That is to say that the rotary connection 131 is positioned on the portion of the shell 12 substantially in front of the top of the shell 12 positioned on the vertical axis 42 and the rotary connection is positioned on the axis of symmetry 44 of the helmet. The offset of the rotary connection, preferably of approximately 30°, makes it possible to raise the visor relative to the shell 12 when the latter is in the stowage position. FIG. 4 illustrates the stowage position of the visor 11 and describes the visor in a higher position relative to a position in which the rotary connection would be positioned at the vertical axis passing through the top of the shell 12. Usually, in a cockpit, the seat of the pilot does not comprise a portion for resting the head and the top of the back 32 of the seat is situated level with the nape of the pilot's neck. Therefore by raising the position of the visor in the stowage position, the risk of the visor impacting the seat is reduced and does not inconvenience the movement of the head of the pilot when the latter leans his head back.

To prevent damage to the visor by an impact from below, the helmet comprises a mechanical means 14 attached to the rear of the shell 12 making it possible to protect the visor when the said visor is in the stowage position. According to the invention, this mechanical means 14 is a rigid strip partly attached along the shell 12 approximately in the width of the nape of the pilot's neck and comprises a rigid wing that is folded and raised upwards. This mechanical means is similar to a mechanical part in the shape of half of a Y.

The support 13 and the visor 11, when in the stowage position at the rear of the helmet 12 frees up the lateral spaces of the helmet and the front space. As specified above, this effect is advantageous for the design of the electronic systems 15 which are then subjected to lesser constraints of space requirement, of cooling and more generally lesser electronic constraints. Consequently, the cost of development and manufacture of said electronic systems is lower. The pilot helmets in the military field also comprise night vision systems. The helmets therefore have a reception support 17 for the said vision systems. Since the front space of the helmet is less encumbered, these vision systems are easier to manipulate for the pilot and also prevent damage to the visor by impact of the vision system with the bottom edge of the visor.

FIG. 4 represents the helmet and the centres of gravity of the head of the wearer, of the integrated electronic elements 15 and 17, of the visor assembly 11 and of the support 13. The point 20 represents the centre of gravity of the head of the wearer, the point 21 represents the centre of gravity of the electronic system 15, the arrow represents the weight, the point 22 represents the centre of gravity of the support for receiving the night-vision glasses, the arrow representing the weight and the point 23 represents the centre of gravity of the visor, the arrow representing the weight. An advantage of the invention is that the weight of the visor makes it possible to compensate for the weights of the electronic systems and of the support which stand away at the front of the helmet and the invention is of particular value for compensating for the weight of the night-vision glasses. It makes it possible to reduce the off-centre shift of the centre of gravity of the helmet assembly relative to the centre of gravity of the head of the wearer. It is possible to estimate at approximately 2 to 3 mm the reduction in the off-centre shift. This performance provides an essential gain in the pilot's acceptance of this type of helmet and consequently in the quality of the missions carried out by the pilot.

Since the visor 11 is no longer folded back on the top of the helmet 12, the space requirement in height above the pilot is reduced. The space 31 shown in FIG. 3 represents the zones where the front panels of the cockpit are situated.

The invention applies to helmets comprising a visor and to any field of application, for example aviation, motor vehicles, etc. 

1. Helmet comprising at least one movable visor and a shell to protect the head of the wearer, wherein the visor is attached to a support connected to the outer surface of the shell by a rotary mechanism making it possible to move the visor around the shell, the rotary mechanism consisting of a single mechanical connection positioned substantially at the top of the shell.
 2. Helmet according to claim 1, wherein the rotary mechanism is designed so that its axis of rotation passes through a point substantially positioned in the centre of the shell and the said axis is also offset at an angle relative to the vertical axis passing through the same point.
 3. Helmet according to claim 2, wherein the rotary mechanism makes it possible to move the support of the visor between two positions, a first position of use of the visor for which the visor is positioned at the front face of the helmet and a second position for stowing the visor for which the visor is positioned at the rear of the helmet
 4. Helmet according to claim 3, wherein in order to move the visor between the position of use and the position of stowage, the visor moves along the lateral portions of the helmet.
 5. Helmet according to claim 4, wherein the visor is moved in a rotary movement through approximately 180°.
 6. Helmet according to claim 5, comprising a mechanical means for protecting the visor when the said visor is in the stowage position.
 7. Helmet according to claim 2, wherein the said angle of offset is approximately 30°.
 8. Helmet according to claim 1, the support of the visor is also a means for gripping the visor and for moving the said visor.
 9. Helmet according to claim 8, comprising at least one mechanical branch connecting the visor to the rotary mechanism.
 10. Helmet according to claim 9, wherein the support of the visor consists of a central mechanical branch connected to the centre of the top longitudinal portion of the visor and of two lateral mechanical branches connected to the lateral portions of the top longitudinal portion of the visor.
 11. Helmet according to claim 5 comprising a mean for holding the support of the visor in the first and in the second position. 